Efficiency in Rural Employment Schemes and Unequal Access: A Decadal Analysis of MGNREGA in Rajasthan (2015–2025)

This study looks at how the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has been put into practice in 33 districts of Rajasthan, India, from 2015 to 2025. We used various methods, including descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and K-means clustering, to gain insights into how different areas of Rajasthan are performing in terms of employment generation and household coverage. The findings from our analysis show that approximately 7 per cent of district-year observations are exhibiting strong performance, while over half are currently facing significant challenges. There are several important factors that have been playing an important role in uncovering these outcomes, including the density of rural populations, the capabilities of local administrations, the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the unique geographic features of each region. Through the use of clustering techniques, we have been able to assess the performance of each district and highlight areas where there may be opportunities for improvement in the implementation process. Additionally, our analysis suggests consistent regional patterns that may reflect underlying challenges in rural governance and resource allocation, warranting further attention and consideration. Based on our findings, we suggest a tiered policy approach that focuses on providing targeted support where it is needed most, learning from successful models and making overall improvements to the system. We believe these insights can help strengthen rural employment schemes in India and lead to more inclusive and effective policy interventions.